Stefano Tomassini's 'Tempo fermo' Explores Dance at the Edge of the Impossible

Stefano Tomassini's new book 'Tempo fermo, danza e performance alla prova dell’impossibile' (Scalpendi, 2018) examines choreographic moments that stage the body in extreme conditions. The dance historian and researcher at Università IUAV di Venezia focuses on dance performed 'a corpo morto, al buio, a tempo fermo e fuori luogo'—dead weight, in darkness, in frozen time, and out of place. The book was presented at the MilanOltre contemporary dance festival. Tomassini argues that immobility on stage creates powerful imagery, forcing spectators to confront a finished, unequivocal action without the usual cues of movement. He also analyzes dance in non-traditional spaces like museums, where proximity between performer and audience can provoke either rejection or deep engagement. Tomassini sees dance and performance as vital tools for reflecting on the contemporary planetary crisis, asserting that every work must pose a problem and justify its necessity. The volume includes examples from various Italian and international artists, such as Michele di Stefano's 'Robinson' (with Philippe Barbut) and Alessandro Sciarroni's 'Aurora'.